Harunsyah Nik Meriam Sulaiman and Mohamed Kheireddine Aroua

pp. 947 - 953

Abstract

A gas sparged method was investigated for reducing cake layer formation and enhancing the crossflow ultrafiltration process. The injection of nitrogen gas promotes turbulence and increases the permeate
flux of the process fluid. Experiments were carried out using a tubular membrane (100 kDa MWCO),
mounted vertically with skim latex serum, which results from the coagulation of skim latex by-product.
The objective of this research was focused mainly on the observed reversible cake resistance during the
cross flow ultrafiltration of skim latex serum. The effect of operating parameters, including feed flow rate,
flowrate gas sparging and transmembrane pressure ware investigated. Results obtained thus far show
that the use of gas sparged technique has been able to enhance total permeate flux in the range 8.29% to
145.33% compared to non-gas sparged condition. In this research optimum permeate flux was obtained at
a feed flowrate of 1400 ml/min, a flowrate gas sparging of 500 ml/min and a transmembrane pressure of
0.89 barg.